Brazil vs South Korea: Electricity Compared

Brazil generated 752 TWh of electricity in 2025 and South Korea 625 TWh, according to Ember. Brazil's largest source was hydro (51.7%); South Korea's was coal (31.1%). Each kWh generated emitted 110 gCO2/kWh in Brazil and 417 gCO2/kWh in South Korea. These are Ember annual statistics for 2025, compiled from national sources; they are not real time.

Why this comparison: both among the 20 largest electricity users.

Key Facts

Hydro supplied 51.7% of Brazil's electricity in 2025, against 0.6% in South Korea.
South Korea's electricity was 3.8 times as carbon intensive as Brazil's in 2025, at 417 gCO2/kWh against 110 gCO2/kWh.
The average person in South Korea used 12.09 MWh of electricity in 2025, 3.4 times as much as in Brazil (3.58 MWh).
Low carbon sources supplied 88.7% of Brazil's electricity in 2025 and 39.9% of South Korea's.
Electricity demand in 2025 was 764 TWh in Brazil and 625 TWh in South Korea.

Key Figures, 2025

Ember annual statistics

Measure	Brazil	South Korea
Total generation	752 TWh	625 TWh
Electricity demand	764 TWh	625 TWh
Demand per person	3.58 MWh	12.09 MWh
Carbon intensity	110 gCO2/kWh	417 gCO2/kWh
Power sector emissions	82.6 MtCO2	261 MtCO2
Low carbon share	88.7%	39.9%
Largest source	Hydro 51.7%	Coal 31.1%

Generation Mix, 2025

Share of generation

Source	Brazil	South Korea
Hydro	51.7%	0.6%
Coal	2.3%	31.1%
Nuclear	2.1%	29.6%
Gas	7.3%	28.0%
Wind	15.6%	0.6%
Solar	12.0%	6.1%
Bioenergy	7.3%	3.2%
Other fossil	1.7%	1.0%

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Carbon intensity of electricity generated in Brazil and South Korea each year from 1985 to 2025, in gCO2/kWh. In 2025 it was 110 gCO2/kWh in Brazil and 417 gCO2/kWh in South Korea.

Annual statistics through 2025, gCO2/kWh

Carbon intensity of electricity in Brazil and South Korea, 1985 to 2025
Year	Brazil	South Korea
1985	61 gCO2/kWh	524 gCO2/kWh
1986	85 gCO2/kWh	431 gCO2/kWh
1987	74 gCO2/kWh	345 gCO2/kWh
1988	66 gCO2/kWh	405 gCO2/kWh
1989	66 gCO2/kWh	383 gCO2/kWh
1990	60 gCO2/kWh	379 gCO2/kWh
1991	62 gCO2/kWh	399 gCO2/kWh
1992	63 gCO2/kWh	427 gCO2/kWh
1993	61 gCO2/kWh	451 gCO2/kWh
1994	61 gCO2/kWh	493 gCO2/kWh
1995	63 gCO2/kWh	479 gCO2/kWh
1996	68 gCO2/kWh	481 gCO2/kWh
1997	71 gCO2/kWh	492 gCO2/kWh
1998	71 gCO2/kWh	463 gCO2/kWh
1999	90 gCO2/kWh	453 gCO2/kWh
2000	89 gCO2/kWh	462 gCO2/kWh
2001	106 gCO2/kWh	475 gCO2/kWh
2002	97 gCO2/kWh	473 gCO2/kWh
2003	91 gCO2/kWh	458 gCO2/kWh
2004	102 gCO2/kWh	463 gCO2/kWh
2005	99 gCO2/kWh	450 gCO2/kWh
2006	96 gCO2/kWh	451 gCO2/kWh
2007	91 gCO2/kWh	474 gCO2/kWh
2008	114 gCO2/kWh	477 gCO2/kWh
2009	87 gCO2/kWh	495 gCO2/kWh
2010	114 gCO2/kWh	500 gCO2/kWh
2011	100 gCO2/kWh	497 gCO2/kWh
2012	128 gCO2/kWh	502 gCO2/kWh
2013	168 gCO2/kWh	512 gCO2/kWh
2014	193 gCO2/kWh	493 gCO2/kWh
2015	189 gCO2/kWh	488 gCO2/kWh
2016	150 gCO2/kWh	489 gCO2/kWh
2017	156 gCO2/kWh	511 gCO2/kWh
2018	137 gCO2/kWh	519 gCO2/kWh
2019	142 gCO2/kWh	497 gCO2/kWh
2020	133 gCO2/kWh	458 gCO2/kWh
2021	168 gCO2/kWh	460 gCO2/kWh
2022	103 gCO2/kWh	438 gCO2/kWh
2023	96 gCO2/kWh	427 gCO2/kWh
2024	106 gCO2/kWh	416 gCO2/kWh
2025	110 gCO2/kWh	417 gCO2/kWh

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

Ember annual statistics

Electricity demand per person in Brazil and South Korea each year from 1985 to 2025, in MWh. In 2025 it was 3.58 MWh in Brazil and 12.09 MWh in South Korea.

Annual statistics through 2025, MWh

Electricity demand per person in Brazil and South Korea, 1985 to 2025
Year	Brazil	South Korea
1985	n/a	n/a
1986	n/a	n/a
1987	n/a	n/a
1988	n/a	n/a
1989	n/a	n/a
1990	n/a	n/a
1991	n/a	n/a
1992	n/a	n/a
1993	n/a	n/a
1994	n/a	n/a
1995	n/a	n/a
1996	n/a	n/a
1997	n/a	n/a
1998	n/a	n/a
1999	n/a	n/a
2000	2.25 MWh	6.21 MWh
2001	2.08 MWh	6.59 MWh
2002	2.14 MWh	7.02 MWh
2003	2.23 MWh	7.32 MWh
2004	2.33 MWh	7.72 MWh
2005	2.39 MWh	8.14 MWh
2006	2.47 MWh	8.39 MWh
2007	2.57 MWh	8.83 MWh
2008	2.66 MWh	9.15 MWh
2009	2.64 MWh	9.32 MWh
2010	2.84 MWh	10.15 MWh
2011	2.91 MWh	10.55 MWh
2012	3.01 MWh	10.71 MWh
2013	3.08 MWh	10.73 MWh
2014	3.12 MWh	10.69 MWh
2015	3.05 MWh	10.75 MWh
2016	3.05 MWh	10.94 MWh
2017	3.06 MWh	11.20 MWh
2018	3.09 MWh	11.48 MWh
2019	3.17 MWh	11.34 MWh
2020	3.13 MWh	11.13 MWh
2021	3.24 MWh	11.72 MWh
2022	3.28 MWh	12.02 MWh
2023	3.43 MWh	11.93 MWh
2024	3.57 MWh	12.09 MWh
2025	3.58 MWh	12.09 MWh

Brazil history · South Korea history

Source: Ember (ember-energy.org), licensed under CC BY 4.0. Data as of 2025.

Brazil vs South Korea: Electricity Compared

Key Facts

Key Figures, 2025

Generation Mix, 2025

Carbon Intensity, 1985 to 2025

Demand per Person, 1985 to 2025

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